Vijender, Sushil foresee medals galore for India

Olympic bronze medalists Vijender Singh and Sushil Kumar on Tuesday said Indian athletes are preparing hard for the fast-approaching Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games and the country can expect a rich medal haul in the twin events.

"Our practice is going on well in Patiala and we are working very hard for the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games," said the world number one boxer Vijender at the launch of a scholarship program.

The 10 athletes who were signed for the scholarship program are shooters Abhinav Bindra, Manavjit Singh Sandhu, Gagan Narang and Ranjan Sodhi, boxers Vijender, Akhil, Thokchom Nanao Singh and Mayengbam Suranjoy Singh, wrestlers Sushil and Ramesh Kumar.

"The fact that the Commonwealth Games will be held in Delhi will also be a motivating factor because competing in front of home crowd always pumps you up," Vijender said.

"Preparation for the Games is going well and this time I won't let you down," added Commonwealth Games gold medalist boxer Akhil Kumar who is seeking to end his injury-ravaged indifferent run of the past two years in the event to held this October.

Sushil said the Indians would fetch a good medal tally in both the events.

"The kind of training that we are going through and the support that we are getting, we should win a lot of medals in both the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games," he said.

Ramesh, the first Indian to win a medal at the World Championships in over 40 years, said the training would get more intense as the Games approach.

"Right we are training for just three hours a day but as the Games come closer the number of hours we put in will go up," he said.

Suresh Kalmadi, Chairman of Indian Olympic Association, who was also present at the occasion said, "I hope that the scholarship for the individual players and the company's support to the Indian Olympic Association for the entire team will yield strong and positive results in a richer medal tally for the country."